
THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER.
5
dispersion," and because of this expression thought by
many to refer to Israel according to the flesh; but while
believing Jews are doubtless included, it is very evident
that the epistle is addressed and comes with peculiar
force to Gentile believers. See chapter 2 : ro. As we
proceed in the study of the epistle, it will be seen that
while it has' been a blessing to the church through all the
past, it has special application and force in the last days.
See chapter 1
:13;
4: 7, 12, 13, 17.
2.
THE elect of God primarily is Christ himself (Isa.
42 : i), and all those who are Christ's are therefore also
the elect of God. They are chosen before the foundation
of the world (Eph. 1 : 4), according to the foreknowledge
of God (I Peter i : 2), chosen to be holy and without
blame (Eph. I :.4), chosen to salvation (2 Thess. 2 : 13; 2
Tim. 2 : ro), chosen through the belief of the truth, the
sanctification of the Spirit, and the sprinkling of the
blood of Jesus (2 Thess. 2 :13; I Peter 1 : 2).
3.
FAITH is based upon God's word. God says it;
faith says it is so, and so it is. Hope is based on God's
promise.
The one all-embracing promise of God is that
relating to the seed, Jesus Christ. (See Gen. 3 : 15; 13 :
16; 22 : 17, 18, and other passages.) This hope centers
in Christ, his death and resurrection. To this Paul re-
fers as " the hope of the promise made of God unto our
fathers" (Acts 26 : 6). This hope included the resurrec-
tion of the dead (verse 8; 24 :15); it was the " hope of Is-
•
rael" (28 : 20); it is the hope of the Lord's coming (Titus
2: 13), of eternal life (3: 7), of salvation (1 Thess. 5 :8),
of the incorruptible inheritance (I Peter 1 : 4); it is the
hope of the gospel (Col. I : 23), Christ our hope (I Tim.
I :1), Christ in you the hope of glory (Col. 1 : 27). We
are begotten again unto that hope by the word of the
gospel (I Peter I : 23; James I : 18), but that word of the
gospel is the Living Word, our Lord Jesus Christ, who